I’ve never had a gig in my life that came with an expense account. I’ve never been able to pick up a tab and turn it in to my boss to be covered. I’m able to write off a few things due to the nature of my job. Cable, Internet, vehicle expenses. All legitimate tax writeoffs but even that makes me nervous. I always feel like I’m doing something wrong. I don’t think I would have the nerve to work for Alberta Health Services. It’s not the pressure to make sure that our province’s citizens receive the health care they’re entitled to. I just couldn’t deal with the lavish expense account. About 26,000 AHS employees have corporate credit cards, which they call purchasing cards. They have limits from the standard but hefty 10 grand a month all the way up to a $900,000 credit limit! Nobody is denying there may be expenses that come with the gig. But rodeo and hockey season tickets? Video games? Real estate commission fees? Explain it. If you can. Fine. But if you can’t, You should go to jail. Just like I do with my taxes. If I steal tax money, even accidentally, I know what happens to me. That’s why I’m scared. Maybe our Alberta Health Services employees need to be a little bit more scared. In the meantime...I’ll just shut my big yap.

Backpactivism to the Rescue!

I’m a little torn when it comes to a couple of new buzz words and what they’re all about. Backpacktivists and voluntourism. Geez, and I thought staycation was a stretch. Backpacktavists are those who travel with the intention of helping. Generally helping those in parts of the world that could really use it. My sister-in-law is a backpacktavist. She’s a local out-reach worker who does great work in the province of Alberta with addicts. She’s also plied her trade a few times over in Uganada to do aids testing in a nation that’s been destroyed by the disease. What she’s doing is good. But unfortunately not all the volunteer work is. You see, often these voluntourists are taking jobs from those who need them. Or doing work they’re maybe not the most qualified to be doing. Do I look like I know how to build a school? Perhaps even worst of all, the good will of man has unfortunately now become big business. Profit is out there and when profit is out there, good will is no longer the bottom line. To me though, the bigger issue is the cost associated with doing good. Before anyone can get over to Africa to do any good, 10 grand has gotta be raised just to make the trip. Is that 10 grand that could’ve been spent locally and more effectively on charity? I think so. In the meantime...I’ll just shut my big yap.

Catch, “My Big Yap, with Yukon Jack,” weekdays at 7:20, 12:30, 4:30 and 8:30 on Edmonton’s Best Rock, 100.3 The Bear, online at www.TheBearRocks.com and follow me on Twitter @TheeYukonJack.

Yukon Jack: AHS needs to be accountable

I’ve never had a gig in my life that came with an expense account. I’ve never been able to pick up a tab and turn it in to my boss to be covered. I’m able to write off a few things due to the nature of my job. Cable, Internet, vehicle expenses. All legitimate tax writeoffs but even that makes me nervous. I always feel like I’m doing something wrong. I don’t think I would have the nerve to work for Alberta Health Services. It’s not the pressure to make sure that our province’s citizens receive the health care they’re entitled to. I just couldn’t deal with the lavish expense account. About 26,000 AHS employees have corporate credit cards, which they call purchasing cards. They have limits from the standard but hefty 10 grand a month all the way up to a $900,000 credit limit! Nobody is denying there may be expenses that come with the gig. But rodeo and hockey season tickets? Video games? Real estate commission fees? Explain it. If you can. Fine. But if you can’t, You should go to jail.